One-way streets and lane choice
How to drive more safely and precisely on one-way streets.
One-way streets seem simple until you meet parking, intersections, cycle lanes and multiple traffic lanes. Then it is easy to end up in the wrong place if you do not read the signs and road markings early enough.
What you need to know
- A one-way street does not mean the whole street environment is simple or conflict-free.
- Cyclists and delivery vehicles can create unusual patterns in these streets.
- Correct lane choice before an intersection is crucial in narrow city streets.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Narrow one-way street | Keep a low speed and read the side activity around parked cars. | Driving in the middle of the road without a plan for an oncoming cyclist or delivery stop. |
| Several lanes approaching an intersection | Choose your lane early according to signs and arrows. | Waiting until the last moment because the street is one-way. |
| Unfamiliar city-centre street | Look for both one-way signs and prohibition signs from side streets. | Trusting the GPS alone to interpret the street correctly. |
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that one-way streets can have special rules for cycling traffic.
- Positioning the car too lazily because you feel alone in your direction.
- Overlooking lane arrows and markings before turning.
How to practice
Read this together with Direction signs , Road signs and lane choice and City driving .